April, 2010

Rating : 10 out of 10

Tariff : Lunch for 2

• 1 appetizer

• 1 lunch salad

• 1 panini

• 3 glasses wine

• tip

• total $ 53

Location and Ambiance

Behind the Boulevard Cinema and next door to Peet's Coffee in downtown Petaluma is a small Italian restaurant called Sugo Trattoria, whose motto is "where old world meets new."  Facing the parking lot instead of Petaluma Blvd, it is in danger of being overlooked.  Find your way inside and you will see why this trattoria is a gem. Friendly, quick service, great specials--for example any wine by the glass was $5 at lunch--and a clean, modern look make Sugo a pleasant dining spot. One evening when we stopped for a late dinner the lights we dimmed and an old black & white film was playing silently on the wall above the open kitchen.

Food

Out for a birthday lunch we first shared a bruchetta appetizer plate.  There were 7 different toppings on crusty slices of whole grain bread from which to choose--any 3 for $7.  This was a bit different as the choices were: prosciutto with fig & brie, roasted red pepper & goat cheese, eggplant relish (smooth with a smoky flavor), olive tapenade & goat cheese, gorgonzola with honey & walnut (a winning combo with salty and sweet deliciously paired!), pesto with salami & mozzarella, tomato with pesto & basil (a nice version of the 'classic' topping), or artichoke & walnut pesto--wow! Next time I will definitely try the alternates.

My choice of lunch entree was the grilled chicken panini with pesto, gorgonzola, and roasted red peppers on foccacia, cut into two triangles.  This sandwich sounded like it would be heavy, but instead it was very light, not dressed too heavily and the foccacia was thin and moist. My friend chose a salad of sliced, oven roasted beets along with citrus, goat cheese, and almonds, over mixed greens, with a balsamic vinaigrette.  Beets are such a naturally sweet, nutritious addition to salads and mixing them with the rich cheese and nuts makes a perfect combination.

Looking at Sugo's menu, it was hard to choose what to try this first visit.  For example, the gnocchi or the fettucini with prawns & scallops or the Italian sausage risotto all sounded delicious.

On our evening visit my dining companion and I sampled more bruschetta :-) We ordered the butternut squash risotto, a very rich combination of flavors: slightly sweet chunks of squash, gorgonzola, buttery pine nuts, sage and spinach. The chopped spinach and fig insalata was a meal in itself with pancetta, candied walnuts, caramelized onions and a sweet, tangy honey mustard vinaigrette dressing. These two choices turned out to be just fright for sharing--crisp fresh greens and heavier creamy risotto.

For owners and chefs Peter White & wife Annette Renee White, Sugo is their third restaurant and it seems to be a success. After looking at their website, I realize I've got to head back on a Tuesday night for tapas and $5 a glass wine!

Sugo Trattoria
5 Petaluma Blvd S Suite B
Petaluma, CA 94952
 (707) 782-9298